Things to Do, week of April 13

April 13, 2016

The annual Cape Coral Cardboard Boat Regatta will take place on Saturday, April 16, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Four Freedoms Park.

Hosted by the Rotary Club of Cape Coral, the event will consist of races among boats made from cardboard constructed with tape and adhesive and painted. Some designs are simple while others are complex. Mostly though, you wouldn't even guess they were cardboard.

Activities include boat viewing; food and beverages (including beer) served; judging for Best Team Effort (after opening ceremony); children's playground, live music and vendors. Event T-shirts will be on sale and attendees can sign up to paddle a boat in the Citizen's Challenge Race.

The actual races will start at 1 p.m. Attendees also get to vote for their favorites for People's Choice.

Admission to the regatta is free and open to the public. The Rotary Club does ask for a monetary contribution for parking.

For more information, visit: capecoralregatta.com.

Four Freedoms Park is at 4818 Tarpon Court, in Cape Coral.

* Movie in the Park

The City of Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Department will screen Big Hero 6 at a free "Movie in the Park" event to be held from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 16.

Bring a blanket, chairs, and dinner and enjoy the show on the big, inflatable screen at Jim Jeffers Park, 2817 S.W. 3rd Lane.

* Friends of the Library book sale

The Friends of the Cape Coral library will hold its book sale next Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

More than 10,000 books will be available with most priced at $2 and under. This year, in addition to the usual large selection of fiction, history, cooking, home and garden, craft books, religion, philosophy, self-help, literature, art, children and young adult there is a large selection of Hollywood and the Stars. DVDs and CDs are also available.

New this year is a 10 percent discount on all purchases by students; just show student ID.

Book sales directly support the Cape Coral Library with equipment and programs for children, teens and adults.

The book sale schedule is:

- Thursday, April 21, from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Member's Only Preview).

Join at the Door - a family one-year membership is $15.

- Friday, April 22, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

- Saturday, April 23, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The book sale is held in the large meeting room at the Cape Coral Public Library at 921 SW 39th Terrace, off Mohawk Parkway in Cape Coral.

Donations to the book sale are always appreciated - leave a message on the Friends Hotline at 349-2572 to schedule a pickup or small quantities can be left at the library circulation desk. All donations are tax deductible, so ask for a receipt.

* Food Truck Wars

Six Bends Harley-Davidson will bring some of the best food trucks in Florida to compete in the inaugural Food Truck Wars on Saturday, April 16, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Food Truck Wars will feature more than 40 gourmet food trucks from all over the state dishing up a variety of food at an average $6 to $8 a plate. Each truck is competing to win an award: Top Ticket Taker, Top Food Sales, Delectable Desserts, Casual Cuisine and the highly coveted People's Choice Award. All who attend are encouraged to cast their vote for the best meal at the Voter Station and meet the celebrity judges.

Live entertainment by local band Electric Lipstick, cold drinks in the beer garden, a kid zone ($5 admission), and more. A portion of proceeds will benefit local charities.

This event includes free admission, complementary parking and is open to the public, all ages and "foodies" welcome.

For more information, contact Taylor Loethen at TaylorL@SFE-US.com. For information about sponsorship opportunities and other Food Truck Wars events around the state, contact Food Truck Crazy, Inc at Info@FoodTruckCrazy.com or 407-296-5882.

Six Bends is at 9501 Thunder Road in Fort Myers.

* Free events at the downtown library

The Friends of the Fort Myers Library will host two free events at the downtown in Fort Myers, at 1651 Lee St. Fort Myers:

- Monday, April 18, at 6:30 p.m.

Finding Liberty at the Golden Door

Rusty Brown presents this unusual performance based on the captivating life of Emma Lazarus, the woman whose memorable poem is etched on the Statue of Liberty. Her iconic words, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..." resonates with the promise of America. The program is a dramatic storytelling about the poet and her poem. I included are songs from the Broadway musical "Miss Liberty."

Please register at 239-479-4636.

-?Wednesday, April 20, at 6:30 p.m.

Around the World in 80 Films Monthly Series

Mystery abounds when it's discovered that, one by one, the greatest chefs in Europe are being killed. The intriguing part of the murders is that each chef is killed in the same manner that their signature dish is prepared. Food critics and the (many) self-proclaimed greatest chefs around Europe demand the mystery be solved! You'll laugh through this comedy, mystery, crime caper. The Friend's license does not allow them to publicize the name of the film, but you can call the library to find out. And, yes, they will have popcorn!

Call 239-479-4636 for more information.

* Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup

It's a great time for cleaning and pitching in with Keep Lee County Beautiful, Inc.'s plans for Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup. The event, organized locally by Keep Lee County Beautiful, Inc., is part of the nation's largest cleanup, beautification and community improvement program. Everyone is invited to join in the activities on April 23. Call (239) 334-3488 to volunteer at various locations and help make Lee County a more beautiful and safer place to live. More than 2.3 million volunteers this year in more than 15,000 communities throughout the U.S. are rallying to participate in cleanup, beautification and community improvement activities.

* Free 'All About Manatees' program

Lee County's Manatee Park will offer the "All About Manatees" program at 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in April at the park, 10901 Palm Beach Blvd., Fort Myers. Learn about the biological characteristics and habitat of the Florida manatee. Discover where manatees live, what they eat and the challenges they face in the shallow coastal waters of Florida. The 30-minute program is free with paid parking.

Manatee Park is a non-captive refuge for the Florida manatee. Optimum viewing for the Florida manatee is between the months of November and March. The park offers ADA accessible paths through the restored native plant habitats and beautiful butterfly gardens. In addition to wildlife observation, the park offers picnic facilities, playground, fishing pier, self-guided ethnobotany trail and canoe/kayak launch to the Orange River.

Manatee Park is open 8 a.m. to sundown. Parking fee required. No pets are allowed. Manatee Park is 1.3 miles east of Interstate 75 on State Road 80 directly across from the FPL power plant. For more information go to www.leeparks.org

* Garden tours

The Lee County Master Gardeners who care for the garden at the Cape Coral Museum will conduct garden tours the second Wednesday afternoon each month through April. This is a Florida Friendly Landscape recognized by the University of Florida. The tours are intended to show gardeners what Florida Friendly plants are and how they can use this idea in their yards. The museum is open at the same time. The cost is only $5 for a tour of the three buildings that make up the museum campus. People can also tour the lovely rose garden. The museum is at 544 Cultural Park Blvd. For more information, 239-772-7037, ccoralmuseum@embarqmail.

* Fort Myers Beach Mini-Masters

The fourth annual "Mini" Masters Golf Tournament comes to Jungle Golf on Tuesday, April 19, with the first tee time of 4 p.m. It'll be more fun than a barrel of monkeys with prizes, raffles and yes, even mulligan's. The jungle survivors will celebrate at the 19th hole at Pinchers Crab Shack where the Champions are crowned and legends are made. Anyone can enter a team but space is limited to only 18 teams with eight players each so get your registration in early! Trophies will be awarded for winning team, lowest individual score, and highest individual score. There will also be a secret hole in one prize. Registration is at Pinchers and transportation will be provided to and from Jungle Golf.

This event is open to the public and cost is $240 per team. However, if you just want to watch and mingle afterwards at Pinchers then sign up for the gallery for $5. It's a great opportunity to network.

If you are a Greater Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce member there are an array of sponsorship opportunities and benefits. For more information download an application from www.fortmyersbeachminimasters.com. You can also register and pay for your team or the gallery on the webpage.